Russian MoD: 52 Ukrainian facilities, 38 equipment strongholds destroyed

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Russia's Defense Ministry announced Thursday that the Russian operational-tactical and army aviation have hit 52 Ukrainian army facilities at night.

The ministry confirmed that Russian fighters attacked 38 military equipment strongholds and concentration areas.

The Russian forces have killed up to 60 Ukrainian nationalists and destroyed two tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, and nine vehicles for various purposes over the past 24 hours.

In addition, Russian Air Defence shot down 18 Ukrainian drones, including one Bayraktar -TB2.

According to the ministry, on March 30th, high-precision air-based missiles destroyed fuel depots in the eastern and northern parts of Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry indicated that since the ongoing military operation in Ukraine, a total of 124 aircraft and 77 helicopters, 216 anti-aircraft missile systems, 341 drones, 1,815 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 195 multiple launch rocket systems, 762 field artillery and mortars, as well as 1,689 Ukrainian armed forces special military vehicles have been destroyed.

On Wednesday, the ministry announced a ceasefire in the city of Mariupol that starts on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in order to evacuate civilians.

Igor Konashenkov, the ministry spokesperson, explained that the goal of the first phase of the special operation in Ukraine was to force the Ukrainian forces to mobilize their forces to maintain control of major cities, and to surround these forces on the battlefields, without storming Ukrainian cities in order to avoid civilians losses.